Luger P.08 Pistol - 8 Inch Long Barrel Artillery Model (1900)

Work Experience: This rare vintage kit of the notorious Luger P.08 pistol was found on top of a crowded and messy shelf in a local model shop quite unexpectedly. It was produced around 1988 as the third kit of the Air Gun Kit Series of San-Ei, and has long been out of production. At first I was planning to keep this kit unbuilt as a collector's item, but then I just couldn't resist the temptation of building it, as I have never built an airsoft model gun before. Therefore, I finally decided to first take pictures of the kit box and its contents for memorial purpose and also take the bother to record the building steps so that I can re-enjoy the process even in the future. As you can see from the pictures, there are not many parts to be assembled, so the total assembly time is indeed about forty minutes as advertised on the box cover. However, it took me more than five hours to paint the completed assembly to achieve a more realistic appearance.

Historical Notes:
The following historical notes are quoted from Wikipedia - The Parabellum-Pistole (Pistol Parabellum), popularly known as the Luger, is a toggle locked, recoil operated, semi-automatic pistol. The design was patented by Georg J. Luger in 1898 and produced by German arms manufacturer Deutsche Waffen- und Munitionsfabriken (DWM) starting in 1900; it was an evolution of the 1893 Hugo Borchardt designed C-93.
The Luger was made popular by its use by Germany during World War I and World War II. Though the Luger pistol was first introduced in 7.65x22mm Parabellum, it is notable for being the pistol for which the 9x19mm Parabellum (also commonly known as the 9mm Luger) cartridge was developed.
The P.08 was the usual side arm for German Army personnel in both world wars, though it was being replaced by the Walther P38 starting in 1938. In 1930, Mauser took over manufacture of the P.08 (until 1943). The Swiss Army evaluated the Luger pistol in 7.65 mm P (.30 Luger in USA) and adopted it in 1900 as its standard side arm, designated Ordonnanzpistole 00 or OP00, in 1900.
The Luger pistol was accepted by the German Navy in 1904, and in 1908 (as Pistole 08) by the German Army (chambered in 9x19mm Parabellum) replacing the Reichsrevolver. The Lange Pistole 08 or Artillery Luger had a stock and longer barrel, and sometimes used with a 32 round drum magazine (Trommelmagazin 08).